Refrigerator car construction



Sept. 16, 1941.

R. B. WINSHIP REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Original Filed June 50, 19382 Shets-Sheeb l Sept. 16, 1941. R. B. wlNsHlP REFRIGERATOR CARCONSTRUCTION Original Filed June 50, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedSept. 16, 1941 REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Ralph B. Winship, Montreal,Quebec, Canada, assig'nor, by mesne assignments, to Standard RailwayDevices Company, a corporation of Dela- Ware Original application June30, 1938, Serial No.

1939, Serial No. 270,572

(Cl. 10S-409) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerator cars used to transport perishablecommodities at a predetermined temperature. A refrigerator car comprisesa body having insulated floor, walls and roof and means for cooling insummer and heating in winter.

This invention applies particularly to cars having the cooling meanssuspended immediately below the ceiling of the car, said meanscomprising containers having a refrigerant therein, the refrigerantbeing pure water ice, ice mixed with salt, a brine solution or frozenbrine, known as eutectic ice. It is preferable to provide a flue.leading from the space surrounding the container to below the loadsupporting foraminous floor. The flue, which is preferably adjacent theside wall of the car, provides a path for the circulation of cooled airand also serves to drain off liquid from condensation on the tanks orfrom melting of the refrigerant.

It is an object of this invention to build a car having bunkerssuspended below the ceiling and to provide a drip pan and side flue forcirculation of air and draining of liquid.

It is another object of the invention to utilize the space between thevertical side framing members or posts to accommodate the flue, thusdecreasing the overall thickness of the wall. The outside width ofrailway cars is limited to a maximum determined by the tunnel clearanceson the railroads on which they operate. The inside width is limited to aminimum determined by the sizes of boxes and crates which are shipped,therefore, with the inside and outside widths severely restricted thethickness of the wall is definitely limited. It is a great advantage,then, to place the side wall flues between the vertical posts so as notto increase the Wall thickness.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate the usual side walldiagonal bracing and substitute horizontal belt rails which may beembedded in the insulation, thereby allowing the space between verticalposts free for the flue.

It is a further object of the invention to use a water proof paper orfabric as the sides of the flue. This decreases both the weight andthickness of the car wall and also facilitates construction since thepaper or fabric may be secured to the wall insulation during themanufacture thereof.

Another object of the invention is to construct the refrigerantcontainers and associated supporting members so that they form a trusseX- tending between the side Walls of the car.

The

Divided and this application April 28,

tanks are, therefore, not only partially self-supporting but also helptol support the roof ofthe car.

Another object is to tie the outerroof and ceiling together with metalhatch frames, thus providing a truss-like structure having greaterstrength and less weight. i

It is another object to construct and suspend the refrigerant containersand their supporting members so that one container may be removed forrepairs without disturbing either the other containers or the roof ofthe car.

A further object of the invention is to use thel upper parts of therefrigerant containers as the ceiling of the car to support theinsulation. This arrangementl eliminates both the Weight and space whichwould be required in the use of a separate ceiling.

Another object of the invention is to provide sheets of moisture-proofpaper or fabric in the wall to prevent entrance of water vapor into theinsulation, thus impairing the efficiency thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial transverse section of the refrigerator car on lineI--I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section on line liof Fig. 2. f A

Fig. 5 shows a modified construction.

The underframe of the car comprises a center sill 2; cross members(bolsters, cross-bearers and cross-ties) 3 and steel side sill angle 4.A subfloor 5 and wooden side sill i5 are supported by the underframe ofthe car; the wooden sill 6 being secured to the steel sill 4 by thebolts I. Several layers of pliable insulation 8 rest upon the sub-floor5 and the main load supporting floor 9 is supported by the wooden sidesill 6 and ,the Stringer Ill which also serves as a cleat to hold theinsulation 8 in place.

The side wall I5 of the car derives its principal support from theZ-b'ar posts I6 which are riveted to the metallic sub-sill I'I. Thesub-sill II is supported upon and insulated from the underframe of thecar by the Wooden sill 6. The posts I6 are secured at their upper endsto the inner metallic side plate I8 and braced at intervals along theirlength by the channel shaped belt rails I9 which are riveted to theposts I6. The side insulation 2l! comprises several layers of pliableinsulation 2l with a layer of vwaterproof material 22 secured to one`face thereof.

l the ,hatch Y l ends of the container.

rainer 45 directly be1ow the haben 5|. l necting piece 66, preferablyangle shaped, con- This is shown in Fig. 1.

` videsV effectively a continuous beam extending be'- p tween the sideposts I6 of the car.

i -61'68 are welded tothe sides 41-48 of the container to stiffen thesides against the outward l thrust of the refrigerant and to helpsupport the sides.

rVIhe wooden pieces 23 function to Afurther brace l the side wall I5Vand to hold the insulation 28 in place. The metallic strips 24 and thebelt i rails I9 also function as cleats to prevent the insulation fromslipping. A wooden stringer 25 l reinforced 'by an angle 25 and securedto the metallic sill 4 serves as the lower supportfor the wood'sheathing 21.

'f sheathing 21 is secured to the wooden piece 28 which is tied to theinner metallic side lplate I8 f by the brackets 25 spaced at intervalslongitu- 'Ihe upper end of the dinally of the car. The outer metallicside plate 38 ris secured to the wooden piece 28. Y

Flues for circulation of air are formed adterial 36.V

In addition to is riveted to the carline 18 and web plates 12 are weldedto the sides 48 of the containers to stiffen the sides and to provide ameans to support the containers. The web plates 12 are riveted to thesupporting member 1|. Y

Fig. 4 shows the construction near the ends of the containers where'thecarline 15 vand theY transverse bars 16 lie in substantially the sameserves asY a barrier'to prevent infiltration of Water vapor into theinsulation.

The refrigerant containers 45 are solid tanks provided in the top sheetto communicate with Welded to the sides 41, 48 and bottom 46 of thecontainer and extend longitudinally of the container from end to end.The stiffeners 52 function as beams to strengthen the container and asskids upon which the` ice may be pushed to the Apertures 53 are providedi near the tops ofthe walls 41-48 for the passage of air when itisdesired to ventilate the car. verted louvers 54'ten'd to prevent thesplashing of liquid from thetank through the apertures 53. A pluralityof spaced apart channel shaped the inner metallic side plates I8. Thereare preferably four carlines 68 for each container 45, one

positioned on each side of the hatch 5| vand one near each end of thecontainer.

A plurality of transverse bars 6| are secured to the bottom of eachcontainer 45. The bars 6| extend a short distance beyond each side of acontainer and are preferably positioned with one directly below thehatch 57| and one near each end of a container. Each bar 6| is securedpreferably by rivets 62 and a gusset plate 63 to a post I6. The bars 6|are` preferably channel spaced and have one l flange thereof flattenedinto the plane of the web at each Vend of the bar to provide adequatespace for rivets.

The transverse bar 65 is at the center of a con- A con- A plurality ofstiifeners 52 are l designed for the retentionof the melted refriger- 1ant and are formed from steel plate by Welding. The bottom 46 and sides1T- 48 of each tank are formed from asinglesheet of steel. The ends 49and top 58 are separate pieces secured prefer- Y ably by spot welding;the seams being waterproofedv by solder or car cement.V An opening iscarlines 68 extend between and are secured to nects the bars of directlyopposite containers.

This construction pro- Web plates V'Fig. `v3 shows the construction atthe carline V18 vertical plane. The plate 11 functions both to connectthe bars v18 of directly opposite containers and to connect said bars tothe carline 15. Web plates 18 welded to the sides 48 of the containersfunction not only to stiffen said walls but to secure the walls' 46 tothe bars 16 and the plate 11. K

The outer `roof 38 of the car extends between j and is supportedby theouter metallic side plates 88.

The roof comprises sheets 8| extending transversely of the car andhaving the transverse edges thereof upturned to form upwardlyprojectingV flanges 82. Inverted channel shaped seam caps, or carlines83, extending between the:

outer metallic side plates y38 to cover the flanges 82 and are'rivetedthereto to provide watertight joints. Hatches 5| are provided for thedeposit of refrigerant in the containers and are sur-Y ceiling of thecar to support the pliable insula- Y tion 89. Small sheets 58 supportthe insulation 89 between containers 45. A layer of'waterproof materialcould be placed above vthe containers to reduce condensation in theinsulation. v

A partition or drip pan |85 is provided -below each container with anVupright' wall |86 at the inner edge thereof to provide a central duct|81,

The drip pan |85 is connected to the bottom edges ofthe transverse bars6| which space they drip pan |85 from the container bottom 45 to providea passage |88 ywhich communicates with the side wall fiues 35. Thelading is supported by a foraminous floor comprising spaced apart slats|89 spaced from and supported on the main floor 9 by stringers H8. Theair circulates from the lading compartment upwardly through the duct|81, through the passage |88 where it is cooled by contact with thecontainer bottom 46, downwardly through the flue 35, through the space 2under theforaminous floorand upwardly between the slats |89 to thelading `com'- partment Ijwhere it is warmed by contact with the lading.

The refrigerant containers, supporting members therefor and portions ofthe roof structure all cooperate to forml a supporting structure for thecontainers. Near the end of each container, the transverse bars 16 andthe plate 11 are'connected together to form, in effect, a lower carlinemember disposed below the containers 45. Said lower carline member andthe upper carline 'I5 are tied together by the plate 11 and thecontainers 45, particularly the ends 49 and sides 41-48 thereof, therebyforming a container supporting structure between the sidewalls I5 of thecar. Y

Near the center of the containers 45, upper carlines are disposed oneach side of the hatch 5|. The transverse bars 65 are connected togetherat the center of the car by the connecting piece 66 to form, in effect,a lower carline member disposed below the containers 45 and in avertical plane disposed between the vertical planes through the uppercarlines 10. The container walls 41-48 are secured to the lower carlinemember by the Web plates 61-68, respectively, and the walls 48 areconnected to the upper carlines 'I0 by the web plates 12. The containers45, the walls 48 in particular and the walls 41, to a limited extent,thereby form a tie between the upper and lower carlines and providecooperation therebetween to support the containers.

The refrigerant containers are constructed and supported so that anycontainer may be removed without disturbing other containers or the roofstructure. After the drip pan has been removed all rivets are readilyaccessible.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of theinvention, though it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as itis obvious that various modications thereof, within the scope of theclaims, will occur to persons skilled in the art.

This is a division of my application, Serial No. 216,732 led June 30,1938.

I claim:

l. A wall structure for a refrigerator car comprising a metallic sillforming part of the underframe of the car, a wooden sill mounted uponand secured to said metallic sill, a metallic sub-sill mounted upon andsecured to said wooden sill, an inner metallic plate, a plurality ofspaced apart vertical posts extending between and secured to saidmetallic sub-sill and inner metallic plate, insulating material outsideof the posts and supported thereby, an outer metallic plate, a

wooden piece secured to the inside of the outer metallic plate, aplurality of spaced apart brackets connecting said inner metallic plateand said wooden piece, a wooden Stringer mounted on the outside of saidmetallic sill, and an outer sheath- -v ing extending between and securedto said wooden piece and Stringer.

2. A wall structure for a refrigerator car cornprising a metallic sillforming part of the underframe of the car, a wooden sill mounted uponand secured to said metallic sill, a metallic subsill mounted upon andsecured to said wooden sill, an inner metallic plate, a plurality ofspaced apart vertical posts extending between and secured to saidmetallic sub-sill and inner metallic plate, insulating material outsideof the posts and supported thereby, an outer metallic plate, means toconnect said inner and outer plates, an outer sheathing, and means tosecure said sheathing to said outer plate and said metallic sill.

3. A refrigerator car having spaced apart walls as defined in claim 2 incombination with inside carlines extending Ibetween and supported bysaid inner metallic plates, inside roof sheets spanning the spacesbetween the inside carlines, outside carlines extending between andsupported by said outer metallic plates, outside roof sheets spanningthe spaces between the outside carlines, and insulating material betweenthe insidev and outside roof sheets and extending continuously betweensaid walls.

4. A refrigerator car having spaced apart walls as dei-ined in claim 2in combination with inside carlines extending between and supported bysaid inner metallic plates, inside roof sheets spanning the spacesbetween the inside carlines, outside carlines extending between andsupported by said outer metallic plates, outside roof sheets spanningthe spaces between the outside carlines, hatch frames connecting theinside and outside roof sheets, and insulating material between theinside and outside roof sheets and extending continuously between thehatch frames and between said walls.

5. A refrigerator car structure comprising spaced apart inner sideplates, inside carlines extending between and secured to said inner sideplates, refrigerant containers partially supported by the insidecarlines wherein the tops of said containers constitute inside roofsheets, spaced apart outer side plates, outside carlines extendingbetween and secured to said outer side plates, outside roof sheetsextending between the outside carlines, insulation between the insideand outside roof sheets and supported by said inside roof sheets, hatchframes secured to the tops of said containers and to the outside roofsheets whereby the outside roof structure also partially supports therefrigerant containers.

G. A wall structure for a refrigerator car comprising a metallic sillsupported by the underframe of the car, a wooden sill mounted upon saidmetallic sill, a metallic sub-sill mounted upon said Wooden sill, aninner metallic plate, a plurality of spaced apart substantially verticalposts extending between and secured to said metallic sub-sill and innermetallic plate, insulating material outside of said posts, an outermetallic plate, an outer sheathing, and means to secure said sheathingto said outer plate and said rnetallic sill.

7. A wall structure for a refrigerator car comprising a metallic sillsupported by the underframe of the car, a metallic sub-sill, insulatingmeans arranged to secure said sub-sill to said metallic sill, an innermetallic plate, a plurality of spaced apart substantially vertical postseX- tending between and secured to said metallic subsill and innermetallic plate, insulating material outside of said posts, an outermetallic plate, means to connect said inner and outer plates, an outersheathing, and means to secure said sheathing to said outer plate andsaid metallic sill.

RALPH B. WINSHIP.

